A fractured hamate bone in his left wrist will keep Gordon out of action for an expected six weeks. He will have surgery in the next few days. A corresponding roster move will be made tomorrow.

Coop

He’ll miss the rest of the road trip to recover from diverticulitis. Minor league pitching coordinator Curt Hasler will join the team in Cleveland to help out in the bullpen. Bobby Thigpen will continue working with Robin in the dugout.

Hawkins Goes Deep–Twice

Top Sox prospect Courtney Hawkins (below) smashed a pair of two-run homers last night in Winston-Salem’s 5-2 victory over Frederick. The first one was hit in the first inning over the 400-foot marker in dead center field to give the Dash an early 2-0 lead.

True Story

So it’s much harder than I thought to get into a cemetery.

This morning, I decided to walk over to Arlington National Cemetery and then walk around those hallowed grounds. Our hotel’s concierge assured me that I could reach the cemetery easily on foot, so off I went. Well, I technically reached the cemetery’s walls easily. The getting in part was not so easy.

Walking along the wall, the first gate I came to was locked tight. A little further along, I ran into a manned gate that marked the edge of the cemetery and a military installation (Fort Myer, which I didn’t know even existed). Three guys manned the gate.

“Hey, can I get into the cemetery from here,” I asked. “I just want to walk around.”

“Do you have an ID?”

“No,” I laughed. “All I have is a hotel room key. I don’t want to go onto the base, I just want to get into the cemetery. I didn’t know it would be this hard. Can I walk all the way around?”

“It’s a long way.”

“OK, well right down there, the stone wall to the cemetery is only waist high, can I just jump over it?”

At this point, one guard, an older guy, said, “You want to jump over the fence?”

“Well, I’m just trying to get inside the cemetery.”

A younger guard quickly added, “Only if I don’t see you …” Now, he seemed to be smiling as he said this, but I also noticed that he was armed with an M-4 rile.

I could just imagine the headline.

“White Sox executive shot while breaking into Arlington National Cemetery.”

So I start walking. And walking. And I can now tell you there is no way into Arlington National Cemetery by foot from Arlington.

Determined, at this point, not to be defeated, I went back to the nearest Metro Stop, hopped on the next train and entered Arlington Cemetery by the normal visitors route.

Stating the obvious, but a walk through Arlington is truly a moving and humbling experience, so many “Unknown” headstones from every war.

Today, I happened to pass the grave of Abner Doubleday (see photo below), long claimed as the “inventor” of baseball.

Yesterday, we had taken a tour of the Pentagon and one of our tour guides, Seaman Tom Williams of Oklahoma City, came to the game last night with several of his other guides. Seaman Williams mentioned that he had spent a year as a member of the color guard at Arlington, serving in over 500 funerals.

Braves Arrive

I ran into former White Sox hitting coach (and current Braves hitting coach) Greg Walker in the hotel lobby this morning. The Braves are in town early before they begin a series with the Nationals tomorrow night.

Quote of the Day

Beckham on his injury: “It’s frustrating, but it is what it is. We’ll get the surgery done and I’ll work hard and get back. I’m not really worried about it.”

Play of the Day

Alex Rios went 2-4 with a double and RBI in last night’s 5-2 loss to the Nats. He owns an eight-game hitting streak, tied for the longest active streak in the American League, and has hit safely in his last 14 contests dating back to September 26, 2012. He ranks among the A.L. leaders in slugging percentage (3rd, .839), home runs (T3rd, 4), average (4th, .419), RBI (T8th, 8) and on-base percentage (T8th, .471).

Tonight’s game bodes well for Gavin. He calls Annapolis, MD home and has had a good measure of success when he’s pitched in nearby Baltimore and Washington.

In his four starts in Baltimore he is 3-0 with a 2.28 ERA and 17 strikeouts.

In his two starts in Washington he is 0-1, but has posted a 2.57 ERA and 11 K’s.

Six starts, a 3-1 record, a 2.38 ERA and 28 strikeouts. Pretty impressive.

Beckham

Gordon injured his left wrist last night while fouling off a pitch in the third inning. X-rays were negative and he’s day-to-day. He’ll test the wrist on Friday.

Coop

He’s improving and the hope is that he’ll travel to Cleveland with the team after Thursday night’s game.

Uni Change

I’m sure eagle-eyed White Sox fans noticed the subtle change in our road uniforms. The black and white piping on the uniform pants has been changed to one thinner black stripe.

Danks

According to RV, John Danks threw six innings yesterday in extended spring training: “There was more velocity and he said he felt great.”

When in D.C…

Several White Sox staff members woke up bright and early today and headed over for a private tour of The Pentagon, arranged by Assistant Trainer Brian Ball and Illinois Senator Mark Kirk.

The building is more than impressive, with memorabilia, photos, paintings and history exhibits lining its 17 miles of hallways (we only walked a little over one mile on our tour).

Among the sights: tour guides (our two were from the Navy and Army) who walk backwards the entire way … a salute-free courtyard (“otherwise all everyone would do all day is salute one another,” according to our guide) … a moving memorial to the victims of 9/11 attack on the building and the nation … and a fly-by of the office of Naval Secretary Ron Maybus to say hello. The Secretary – who threw out a first pitch at a White Sox game last year when he was in Chicago to commission the USS Illinois submarine – wasn’t around.

The resounding takeway for me was that while the 9/11 attacks seem, in some ways to be long ago, they are very real at The Pentagon where daily reminders line every hallway, where employees can worship in a chapel near where the plane hit the building, and where a look outside shows a memorial arbor of small trees and sculptures. It was very moving and made you appreciate the cost and sacrifice of the past 12 years.

Of course, like any good tour, we concluded in The Pentagon gift shop where a few challenge coins were purchased and where Head Trainer Herm Schneider then “briefed the media.” (See photo below).

Don’t worry folks, The Pentagon was in good hands. And the other question is, how in the world did these guys get into The Pentagon?)

South Side Sox

It was good to see Jim Margalus of the popular website, South Side Sox, at the ballpark in D.C. last night. @southsidesox

Rave Review

Check out this story from mediapost.com, which applauds the Sox’s success in reaching families.

…that despite the Sox being on the road in D.C., chants of Paul-ie, Paul-ie reverberated throughout the ballpark after Konerko’s home run?

Photo(s) of the Day

Some sightseeing in the nation’s capital after The Pentagon visit. Here’s the Mall with the Washington Monument and Capitol building in the background and the awe-inspiring tribute to a great Illinoisian at the Lincoln Memorial.

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